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Han P, Tang X, Koch H, Dong X, Hou L, Wang D, Zhao Q, Li Z, Liu M, Lücker S, Shi G. Unveiling unique microbial nitrogen cycling and nitrification driver in coastal Antarctica. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3143. [PMID: 38609359 PMCID: PMC11014942 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47392-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2023] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Largely removed from anthropogenic delivery of nitrogen (N), Antarctica has notably low levels of nitrogen. Though our understanding of biological sources of ammonia have been elucidated, the microbial drivers of nitrate (NO3-) cycling in coastal Antarctica remains poorly understood. Here, we explore microbial N cycling in coastal Antarctica, unraveling the biological origin of NO3- via oxygen isotopes in soil and lake sediment, and through the reconstruction of 1968 metagenome-assembled genomes from 29 microbial phyla. Our analysis reveals the metabolic potential for microbial N2 fixation, nitrification, and denitrification, but not for anaerobic ammonium oxidation, signifying a unique microbial N-cycling dynamic. We identify the predominance of complete ammonia oxidizing (comammox) Nitrospira, capable of performing the entire nitrification process. Their adaptive strategies to the Antarctic environment likely include synthesis of trehalose for cold stress, high substrate affinity for resource utilization, and alternate metabolic pathways for nutrient-scarce conditions. We confirm the significant role of comammox Nitrospira in the autotrophic, nitrification process via 13C-DNA-based stable isotope probing. This research highlights the crucial contribution of nitrification to the N budget in coastal Antarctica, identifying comammox Nitrospira clade B as a nitrification driver.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ping Han
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Xiufeng Tang
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Hanna Koch
- Department of Microbiology, RIBES, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
- Center for Health & Bioresources, Bioresources Unit, AIT Austrian Institute of Technology GmbH, A-3430, Tulln, Austria
| | - Xiyang Dong
- Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Third Institute of Oceanography, Ministry of Natural Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
- State Key Laboratory Breeding Base of Marine Genetic Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
- Fujian Key Laboratory of Marine Genetic Resources, Xiamen, 361005, China
| | - Lijun Hou
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
- Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China
| | - Danhe Wang
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Qian Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Zhe Li
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Min Liu
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China.
- Institute of Eco-Chongming (IEC), East China Normal University, 3663 North Zhongshan Road, Shanghai, 200062, China.
| | - Sebastian Lücker
- Department of Microbiology, RIBES, Radboud University, Heyendaalseweg 135, 6525 AJ, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
| | - Guitao Shi
- Key Laboratory of Geographic Information Science (Ministry of Education), School of Geographic Sciences, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Estuarine and Coastal Research, East China Normal University, 500 Dongchuan Road, Shanghai, 200241, China.
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Canini F, Borruso L, Newsham KK, D'Alò F, D'Acqui LP, Zucconi L. Wide divergence of fungal communities inhabiting rocks and soils in a hyper-arid Antarctic desert. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:3671-3682. [PMID: 37964667 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2023] [Accepted: 10/24/2023] [Indexed: 11/16/2023]
Abstract
Highly simplified microbial communities colonise rocks and soils of continental Antarctica ice-free deserts. These two habitats impose different selection pressures on organisms, yet the possible filtering effects on the diversity and composition of microbial communities have not hitherto been fully characterised. We hence compared fungal communities in rocks and soils in three localities of inner Victoria Land. We found low fungal diversity in both substrates, with a mean species richness of 28 across all samples, and significantly lower diversity in rocks than in soils. Rock and soil communities were strongly differentiated, with a multinomial species classification method identifying just three out of 328 taxa as generalists with no affinity for either substrate. Rocks were characterised by a higher abundance of lichen-forming fungi (typically Buellia, Carbonea, Pleopsidium, Lecanora, and Lecidea), possibly owing to the more protected environment and the porosity of rocks permitting photosynthetic activity. In contrast, soils were dominated by obligate yeasts (typically Naganishia and Meyerozyma), the abundances of which were correlated with edaphic factors, and the black yeast Cryomyces. Our study suggests that strong differences in selection pressures may account for the wide divergences of fungal communities in rocks and soils of inner Victoria Land.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fabiana Canini
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
| | - Luigimaria Borruso
- Faculty of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Sciences, Free University of Bozen, Bozen-Bolzano, Italy
| | - Kevin K Newsham
- British Antarctic Survey (BAS), Natural Environment Research Council (NERC), Cambridge, UK
| | - Federica D'Alò
- Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Institute (IRET), National Research Council (CNR), Porano (TR), Italy
| | - Luigi P D'Acqui
- Institute of Polar Sciences (ISP), National Research Council (CNR), Messina, Italy
| | - Laura Zucconi
- Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy
- Terrestrial Ecosystems Research Institute (IRET), National Research Council (CNR), Sesto Fiorentino (FI), Italy
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Fernández-Martínez MÁ, García-Villadangos M, Moreno-Paz M, Gangloff V, Carrizo D, Blanco Y, González S, Sánchez-García L, Prieto-Ballesteros O, Altshuler I, Whyte LG, Parro V, Fairén AG. Geomicrobiological Heterogeneity of Lithic Habitats in the Extreme Environment of Antarctic Nunataks: A Potential Early Mars Analog. Front Microbiol 2021; 12:670982. [PMID: 34276605 PMCID: PMC8284421 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.670982] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Nunataks are permanent ice-free rocky peaks that project above ice caps in polar regions, thus being exposed to extreme climatic conditions throughout the year. They undergo extremely low temperatures and scarcity of liquid water in winter, while receiving high incident and reflected (albedo) UVA-B radiation in summer. Here, we investigate the geomicrobiology of the permanently exposed lithic substrates of nunataks from Livingston Island (South Shetlands, Antarctic Peninsula), with focus on prokaryotic community structure and their main metabolic traits. Contrarily to first hypothesis, an extensive sampling based on different gradients and multianalytical approaches demonstrated significant differences for most geomicrobiological parameters between the bedrock, soil, and loose rock substrates, which overlapped any other regional variation. Brevibacillus genus dominated on bedrock and soil substrates, while loose rocks contained a diverse microbial community, including Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria and abundant Cyanobacteria inhabiting the milder and diverse microhabitats within. Archaea, a domain never described before in similar Antarctic environments, were also consistently found in the three substrates, but being more abundant and potentially more active in soils. Stable isotopic ratios of total carbon (δ 13C) and nitrogen (δ 15N), soluble anions concentrations, and the detection of proteins involved in key metabolisms via the Life Detector Chip (LDChip), suggest that microbial primary production has a pivotal role in nutrient cycling at these exposed areas with limited deposition of nutrients. Detection of stress-resistance proteins, such as molecular chaperons, suggests microbial molecular adaptation mechanisms to cope with these harsh conditions. Since early Mars may have encompassed analogous environmental conditions as the ones found in these Antarctic nunataks, our study also contributes to the understanding of the metabolic features and biomarker profiles of a potential Martian microbiota, as well as the use of LDChip in future life detection missions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Ángel Fernández-Martínez
- Centro de Astrobiología, CSIC-INTA, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Sergi González
- Antarctic Group, Agencia Estatal de Meteorología, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Ianina Altshuler
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Lyle G Whyte
- Department of Natural Resource Sciences, Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, McGill University, Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, QC, Canada
| | - Victor Parro
- Centro de Astrobiología, CSIC-INTA, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto G Fairén
- Centro de Astrobiología, CSIC-INTA, Madrid, Spain.,Department of Astronomy, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States
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Effects of different proportions of soft rock additions on organic carbon pool and bacterial community structure of sandy soil. Sci Rep 2021; 11:4624. [PMID: 33633300 PMCID: PMC7907148 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-84177-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The sandy soil leaks water and fertilizer, and the ecological degradation is serious. The structural characteristics of soft rock and sandy soil are complementary, and the improvement of sandy soil by adding soft rock is of great significance to improve soil fertility, restore biodiversity, and maintain sustainable development of the Mu Us sandy land region. In this study, total organic carbon (TOC), particulate organic carbon (POC), dissolved organic carbon (DOC), easily oxidized organic carbon (ROC), microbial biomass carbon (SMBC), bacterial community structure and crop yield were examined using soft rock:sand volume ratios of 0:1 (CK), 1:5 (C1), 1:2 (C2) and 1:1 (C3). Our results indicated that, compared with the CK treatment, TOC (9.66–22.34%), POC (85.65–120.41%) and ROC (114.12–192.31%) noticeably increased in C1, C2 and C3 treatments; SMBC in treatment C3 increased by 42.77%. The three dominant bacteria in the soil (Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria and Chloroflexi), as well as Proteobacteria abundance, greatly declined in the treatments with the addition of soft rock. Pseudarthrobacter was the dominant Genus in all treatments, having an abundance between 11.83 and 19.33%. Bacterial diversity, richness and evenness indices all recorded an increase under the treatments. POC, TOC and SMBC recorded the most significant effects on the bacterial community structure. The largest increases in wheat and corn yields were recorded in the C2 treatment (16.05% and 16.30%), followed by the C1 treatment (8.28% and 8.20%, respectively). Our findings indicate that a soft rock:sand ratio between 1:5 and 1:2 recorded the most improvement in the sandy soil environment.
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Mergelov N, Dolgikh A, Shorkunov I, Zazovskaya E, Soina V, Yakushev A, Fedorov-Davydov D, Pryakhin S, Dobryansky A. Hypolithic communities shape soils and organic matter reservoirs in the ice-free landscapes of East Antarctica. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10277. [PMID: 32581283 PMCID: PMC7314805 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67248-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The soils of East Antarctica have no rhizosphere with the bulk of organo-mineral interactions confined to the thin microbial and cryptogamic crusts that occur in open or cryptic niches and are collectively known as biological soil crust (BSC). Here we demonstrate that cryptic hypolithic varieties of BSC in the Larsemann Hills of East Antarctica contribute to the buildup of soil organic matter and produce several types of continuous organogenous horizons within the topsoil with documented clusters of at least 100 m2. Such hypolithic horizons accumulate 0.06-4.69% of organic carbon (TOC) with isotopic signatures (δ13Corg) within the range of -30.2 - -24.0‰, and contain from 0 to 0.38% total nitrogen (TN). The properties of hypolithic organic matter alternate between cyanobacteria- and moss-dominated horizons, which are linked to the meso- and microtopography patterns and moisture gradients. The major part of TOC that is stored in hypolithic horizons has modern or centenary 14C age, while the minor part is stabilized on a millennial timescale through shallow burial and association with minerals. Our findings suggest that hypolithic communities create a "gateway" for organic carbon to enter depauperate soils of the Larsemann Hills and contribute to the carbon reservoir of the topsoil at a landscape level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Mergelov
- Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119017, Moscow, Russia.
| | - Andrey Dolgikh
- Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119017, Moscow, Russia
| | - Ilya Shorkunov
- Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119017, Moscow, Russia
| | - Elya Zazovskaya
- Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, 119017, Moscow, Russia
| | - Vera Soina
- Faculty of Soil Science, Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russia
| | - Andrey Yakushev
- Faculty of Soil Science, Moscow State University, 119991, Moscow, Russia
| | - Dmitry Fedorov-Davydov
- Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems in Soil Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290, Pushchino, Russia
| | - Sergey Pryakhin
- Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute, 199397, Saint Petersburg, Russia
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Geyer KM, Barrett JE. Unimodal productivity–diversity relationships among bacterial communities in a simple polar soil ecosystem. Environ Microbiol 2019; 21:2523-2532. [DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.14639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 04/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/23/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M. Geyer
- Department of Natural Resources and the EnvironmentUniversity of New Hampshire Durham New Hampshire USA
- Department of Biological SciencesVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Virginia USA
| | - John E. Barrett
- Department of Biological SciencesVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University Blacksburg Virginia USA
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8
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Mergelov N, Mueller CW, Prater I, Shorkunov I, Dolgikh A, Zazovskaya E, Shishkov V, Krupskaya V, Abrosimov K, Cherkinsky A, Goryachkin S. Alteration of rocks by endolithic organisms is one of the pathways for the beginning of soils on Earth. Sci Rep 2018; 8:3367. [PMID: 29463846 PMCID: PMC5820250 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-21682-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2017] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Subaerial endolithic systems of the current extreme environments on Earth provide exclusive insight into emergence and development of soils in the Precambrian when due to various stresses on the surfaces of hard rocks the cryptic niches inside them were much more plausible habitats for organisms than epilithic ones. Using an actualistic approach we demonstrate that transformation of silicate rocks by endolithic organisms is one of the possible pathways for the beginning of soils on Earth. This process led to the formation of soil-like bodies on rocks in situ and contributed to the raise of complexity in subaerial geosystems. Endolithic systems of East Antarctica lack the noise from vascular plants and are among the best available natural models to explore organo-mineral interactions of a very old “phylogenetic age” (cyanobacteria-to-mineral, fungi-to-mineral, lichen-to-mineral). On the basis of our case study from East Antarctica we demonstrate that relatively simple endolithic systems of microbial and/or cryptogamic origin that exist and replicate on Earth over geological time scales employ the principles of organic matter stabilization strikingly similar to those known for modern full-scale soils of various climates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikita Mergelov
- Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Department of Soil Geography and Evolution, Moscow, 119017, Russia.
| | - Carsten W Mueller
- TU München, Lehrstuhl für Bodenkunde, Freising-Weihenstephan, 85354, Germany
| | - Isabel Prater
- TU München, Lehrstuhl für Bodenkunde, Freising-Weihenstephan, 85354, Germany
| | - Ilya Shorkunov
- Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Department of Soil Geography and Evolution, Moscow, 119017, Russia
| | - Andrey Dolgikh
- Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Department of Soil Geography and Evolution, Moscow, 119017, Russia
| | - Elya Zazovskaya
- Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Department of Soil Geography and Evolution, Moscow, 119017, Russia
| | - Vasily Shishkov
- Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Department of Soil Geography and Evolution, Moscow, 119017, Russia
| | - Victoria Krupskaya
- Institute of Geology of Ore Deposits, Petrography, Mineralogy and Geochemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Laboratory of Crystal Chemistry of Minerals, Moscow, 119017, Russia
| | - Konstantin Abrosimov
- V.V. Dokuchaev Soil Science Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, Department of Soil Physics, Hydrology and Erosion, Moscow, 119017, Russia
| | - Alexander Cherkinsky
- Center for Applied Isotope Studies, University of Georgia, Athens, 30602, United States
| | - Sergey Goryachkin
- Institute of Geography, Russian Academy of Sciences, Department of Soil Geography and Evolution, Moscow, 119017, Russia
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Wei STS, Lacap-Bugler DC, Lau MCY, Caruso T, Rao S, de Los Rios A, Archer SK, Chiu JMY, Higgins C, Van Nostrand JD, Zhou J, Hopkins DW, Pointing SB. Taxonomic and Functional Diversity of Soil and Hypolithic Microbial Communities in Miers Valley, McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:1642. [PMID: 27812351 PMCID: PMC5071352 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2016] [Accepted: 10/03/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
The McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are an extreme polar desert. Mineral soils support subsurface microbial communities and translucent rocks support development of hypolithic communities on ventral surfaces in soil contact. Despite significant research attention, relatively little is known about taxonomic and functional diversity or their inter-relationships. Here we report a combined diversity and functional interrogation for soil and hypoliths of the Miers Valley in the McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica. The study employed 16S rRNA fingerprinting and high throughput sequencing combined with the GeoChip functional microarray. The soil community was revealed as a highly diverse reservoir of bacterial diversity dominated by actinobacteria. Hypolithic communities were less diverse and dominated by cyanobacteria. Major differences in putative functionality were that soil communities displayed greater diversity in stress tolerance and recalcitrant substrate utilization pathways, whilst hypolithic communities supported greater diversity of nutrient limitation adaptation pathways. A relatively high level of functional redundancy in both soil and hypoliths may indicate adaptation of these communities to fluctuating environmental conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean T S Wei
- Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Applied Sciences, Auckland University of Technology Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Donnabella C Lacap-Bugler
- Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Applied Sciences, Auckland University of Technology Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Maggie C Y Lau
- Department of Geosciences, Princeton University Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Tancredi Caruso
- School of Biological Sciences, Queen's University Belfast Belfast, Northern Ireland
| | - Subramanya Rao
- Department of Health Technology and Informatics, Hong Kong Polytechnic University Hong Kong, China
| | - Asunción de Los Rios
- Departamento de Biogeoquímica y Ecología Microbiana, Museo Nacional de Ciencias Naturales Madrid, Spain
| | - Stephen K Archer
- Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Applied Sciences, Auckland University of Technology Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Jill M Y Chiu
- Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University Hong Kong, China
| | - Colleen Higgins
- Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Applied Sciences, Auckland University of Technology Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Joy D Van Nostrand
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of Oklahoma Norman, OK, USA
| | - Jizhong Zhou
- Department of Microbiology and Plant Biology, Institute for Environmental Genomics, University of OklahomaNorman, OK, USA; State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua UniversityBeijing, China; Earth Sciences Division, Lawrence Berkeley National LaboratoryBerkeley, CA, USA
| | - David W Hopkins
- School of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Royal Agricultural University Gloucestershire, UK
| | - Stephen B Pointing
- Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Applied Sciences, Auckland University of TechnologyAuckland, New Zealand; Institute of Nature and Environmental Technology, Kanazawa UniversityKanazawa, Japan
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Liang F, Li J, Yang X, Huang S, Cai Z, Gao H, Ma J, Cui X, Xu M. Three-decade long fertilization-induced soil organic carbon sequestration depends on edaphic characteristics in six typical croplands. Sci Rep 2016; 6:30350. [PMID: 27492771 PMCID: PMC4974611 DOI: 10.1038/srep30350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 07/04/2016] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Fertilizations affect soil organic carbon (SOC) content but the relative influences of the edaphic and climate factors on SOC storage are rarely studied across wide spatiotemporal scales. This study synthesized long-term datasets of fertilization experiments in six typical Chinese croplands, and calculated annual C input from crops and manure amendments, changes in SOC storage (ΔSOC) and C sequestration efficiency (i.e. the percentage of soil C change per unit of C input, hereafter referred as CSE) in 0–20 cm soil over three decades. Three fertilization treatments include no fertilization (CK), chemical nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizers (NPK) and combined chemical fertilizers and manure (NPKM). Results showed significant fertilization effects on C input and ΔSOC (NPKM>NPK>CK), and significantly higher CSE in Qiyang at Hunan than Zhengzhou at Henan and Heihe at Heilongjiang. The variance partitioning analysis (VPA) showed more variance of CSE can be explained by edaphic factors (up to 39.7%) than other factors. Furthermore, soil available N content and pH were identified as the major soil properties explaining CSE variance. This study demonstrated key controls of soil fertility factors on SOC sequestration and informs the need to develop strategic soil management plan to promote soil carbon sequestration under long-term intensive fertilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Liang
- National Engineering Laboratory for Improving Quality of Arable Land, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Jianwei Li
- National Engineering Laboratory for Improving Quality of Arable Land, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Xueyun Yang
- College of Resource and Environment, Northwest Sci-Tech University of Agriculture and Forestry, Yangling, Shaanxi 712100, China
| | - Shaomin Huang
- Institute of Plant Nutrition and Agricultural Resources, Henan Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Zhengzhou, Henan 450002, China
| | - Zejiang Cai
- National Engineering Laboratory for Improving Quality of Arable Land, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Hongjun Gao
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jilin Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Changchun, Jilin, 130033, China
| | - Junyong Ma
- Institute of Upland Agriculture, Hebei Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Hengshui, Hebei, 053001, China
| | - Xian Cui
- Heihe Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Heihe, Heilongjiang, 164301, China
| | - Minggang Xu
- National Engineering Laboratory for Improving Quality of Arable Land, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing, 100081, China
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12
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Pointing SB. Hypolithic Communities. BIOLOGICAL SOIL CRUSTS: AN ORGANIZING PRINCIPLE IN DRYLANDS 2016. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-30214-0_11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
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Niederberger TD, Sohm JA, Gunderson T, Tirindelli J, Capone DG, Carpenter EJ, Cary SC. Carbon-Fixation Rates and Associated Microbial Communities Residing in Arid and Ephemerally Wet Antarctic Dry Valley Soils. Front Microbiol 2015; 6:1347. [PMID: 26696969 PMCID: PMC4673872 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2015.01347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2015] [Accepted: 11/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbon-fixation is a critical process in severely oligotrophic Antarctic Dry Valley (DV) soils and may represent the major source of carbon in these arid environments. However, rates of C-fixation in DVs are currently unknown and the microorganisms responsible for these activities unidentified. In this study, C-fixation rates measured in the bulk arid soils (<5% moisture) ranged from below detection limits to ∼12 nmol C/cc/h. Rates in ephemerally wet soils ranged from ∼20 to 750 nmol C/cc/h, equating to turnover rates of ∼7-140 days, with lower rates in stream-associated soils as compared to lake-associated soils. Sequencing of the large subunit of RuBisCO (cbbL) in these soils identified green-type sequences dominated by the 1B cyanobacterial phylotype in both arid and wet soils including the RNA fraction of the wet soil. Red-type cbbL genes were dominated by 1C actinobacterial phylotypes in arid soils, with wetted soils containing nearly equal proportions of 1C (actinobacterial and proteobacterial signatures) and 1D (algal) phylotypes. Complementary 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA gene sequencing also revealed distinct differences in community structure between biotopes. This study is the first of its kind to examine C-fixation rates in DV soils and the microorganisms potentially responsible for these activities.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jill A. Sohm
- Wrigley Institute of Environmental Studies and Department of Biological Science, University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Troy Gunderson
- Wrigley Institute of Environmental Studies and Department of Biological Science, University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Joëlle Tirindelli
- Romberg Tiburon Center, San Francisco State UniversityTiburon, CA, USA
| | - Douglas G. Capone
- Wrigley Institute of Environmental Studies and Department of Biological Science, University of Southern CaliforniaLos Angeles, CA, USA
| | | | - S. Craig Cary
- College of Marine and Earth Sciences, University of DelawareLewes, DE, USA
- International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research, University of WaikatoHamilton, New Zealand
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Laudicina VA, Benhua S, Dennis PG, Badalucco L, Rushton SP, Newsham KK, O’Donnell AG, Hartley IP, Hopkins DW. Responses to increases in temperature of heterotrophic micro-organisms in soils from the maritime Antarctic. Polar Biol 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-015-1673-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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15
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Dsouza M, Taylor MW, Turner SJ, Aislabie J. Genomic and phenotypic insights into the ecology of Arthrobacter from Antarctic soils. BMC Genomics 2015; 16:36. [PMID: 25649291 PMCID: PMC4326396 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-015-1220-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2014] [Accepted: 01/02/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Members of the bacterial genus Arthrobacter are both readily cultured and commonly identified in Antarctic soil communities. Currently, relatively little is known about the physiological traits that allow these bacteria to survive in the harsh Antarctic soil environment. The aim of this study is to investigate if Antarctic strains of Arthrobacter owe their resilience to substantial genomic changes compared to Arthrobacter spp. isolated from temperate soil environments. RESULTS Quantitative PCR-based analysis revealed that up to 4% of the soil bacterial communities were comprised of Arthrobacter spp. at four locations in the Ross Sea Region. Genome analysis of the seven Antarctic Arthrobacter isolates revealed several features that are commonly observed in psychrophilic/psychrotolerant bacteria. These include genes primarily associated with sigma factors, signal transduction pathways, the carotenoid biosynthesis pathway and genes induced by cold-shock, oxidative and osmotic stresses. However, these genes were also identified in genomes of seven temperate Arthrobacter spp., suggesting that these mechanisms are beneficial for growth and survival in a range of soil environments. Phenotypic characterisation revealed that Antarctic Arthrobacter isolates demonstrate significantly lower metabolic versatility and a narrower salinity tolerance range compared to temperate Arthrobacter species. Comparative analyses also revealed fewer protein-coding sequences and a significant decrease in genes associated with transcription and carbohydrate transport and metabolism in four of the seven Antarctic Arthrobacter isolates. Notwithstanding genome incompleteness, these differences together with the decreased metabolic versatility are indicative of genome content scaling. CONCLUSIONS The genomes of the seven Antarctic Arthrobacter isolates contained several features that may be beneficial for growth and survival in the Antarctic soil environment, although these features were not unique to the Antarctic isolates. These genome sequences allow further investigations into the expression of physiological traits that enable survival under extreme conditions and, more importantly, into the ability of these bacteria to respond to future perturbations including climate change and human impacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Dsouza
- Centre for Microbial Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.
| | - Michael W Taylor
- Centre for Microbial Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.
| | - Susan J Turner
- Centre for Microbial Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, 1142, New Zealand.
- BioDiscovery New Zealand Limited, Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand.
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16
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Dsouza M, Taylor MW, Turner SJ, Aislabie J. Genome-based comparative analyses of Antarctic and temperate species of Paenibacillus. PLoS One 2014; 9:e108009. [PMID: 25285990 PMCID: PMC4186907 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Accepted: 08/21/2014] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Antarctic soils represent a unique environment characterised by extremes of temperature, salinity, elevated UV radiation, low nutrient and low water content. Despite the harshness of this environment, members of 15 bacterial phyla have been identified in soils of the Ross Sea Region (RSR). However, the survival mechanisms and ecological roles of these phyla are largely unknown. The aim of this study was to investigate whether strains of Paenibacillus darwinianus owe their resilience to substantial genomic changes. For this, genome-based comparative analyses were performed on three P. darwinianus strains, isolated from gamma-irradiated RSR soils, together with nine temperate, soil-dwelling Paenibacillus spp. The genome of each strain was sequenced to over 1,000-fold coverage, then assembled into contigs totalling approximately 3 Mbp per genome. Based on the occurrence of essential, single-copy genes, genome completeness was estimated at approximately 88%. Genome analysis revealed between 3,043-3,091 protein-coding sequences (CDSs), primarily associated with two-component systems, sigma factors, transporters, sporulation and genes induced by cold-shock, oxidative and osmotic stresses. These comparative analyses provide an insight into the metabolic potential of P. darwinianus, revealing potential adaptive mechanisms for survival in Antarctic soils. However, a large proportion of these mechanisms were also identified in temperate Paenibacillus spp., suggesting that these mechanisms are beneficial for growth and survival in a range of soil environments. These analyses have also revealed that the P. darwinianus genomes contain significantly fewer CDSs and have a lower paralogous content. Notwithstanding the incompleteness of the assemblies, the large differences in genome sizes, determined by the number of genes in paralogous clusters and the CDS content, are indicative of genome content scaling. Finally, these sequences are a resource for further investigations into the expression of physiological attributes that enable survival under extreme conditions and selection processes that affect prokaryotic genome evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Dsouza
- Centre for Microbial Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Michael W. Taylor
- Centre for Microbial Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Susan J. Turner
- Centre for Microbial Innovation, School of Biological Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- BioDiscovery New Zealand Limited, Parnell, Auckland, New Zealand
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17
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Magalhães CM, Machado A, Frank-Fahle B, Lee CK, Cary SC. The ecological dichotomy of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and bacteria in the hyper-arid soils of the Antarctic Dry Valleys. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:515. [PMID: 25324835 PMCID: PMC4179728 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00515] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2014] [Accepted: 09/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The McMurdo Dry Valleys of Antarctica are considered to be one of the most physically and chemically extreme terrestrial environments on the Earth. However, little is known about the organisms involved in nitrogen transformations in these environments. In this study, we investigated the diversity and abundance of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) and bacteria (AOB) in four McMurdo Dry Valleys with highly variable soil geochemical properties and climatic conditions: Miers Valley, Upper Wright Valley, Beacon Valley and Battleship Promontory. The bacterial communities of these four Dry Valleys have been examined previously, and the results suggested that the extremely localized bacterial diversities are likely driven by the disparate physicochemical conditions associated with these locations. Here we showed that AOB and AOA amoA gene diversity was generally low; only four AOA and three AOB operational taxonomic units (OTUs) were identified from a total of 420 AOA and AOB amoA clones. Quantitative PCR analysis of amoA genes revealed clear differences in the relative abundances of AOA and AOB amoA genes among samples from the four dry valleys. Although AOB amoA gene dominated the ammonia-oxidizing community in soils from Miers Valley and Battleship Promontory, AOA amoA gene were more abundant in samples from Upper Wright and Beacon Valleys, where the environmental conditions are considerably harsher (e.g., extremely low soil C/N ratios and much higher soil electrical conductivity). Correlations between environmental variables and amoA genes copy numbers, as examined by redundancy analysis (RDA), revealed that higher AOA/AOB ratios were closely related to soils with high salts and Cu contents and low pH. Our findings hint at a dichotomized distribution of AOA and AOB within the Dry Valleys, potentially driven by environmental constraints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catarina M Magalhães
- Interdisciplinary Centre of Marine and Environmental Research, University of Porto Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana Machado
- Institute of Biomedical Sciences University of Porto Porto, Portugal
| | - Béatrice Frank-Fahle
- Institute of Groundwater Ecology, Helmholtz Zentrum München - German Research Center for Environmental Health Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Charles K Lee
- International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research, University of Waikato Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - S Craig Cary
- International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research, University of Waikato Hamilton, New Zealand ; College of Earth, Ocean and Environment, University of Delaware Lewes, DE, USA
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18
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Cowan DA, Makhalanyane TP, Dennis PG, Hopkins DW. Microbial ecology and biogeochemistry of continental Antarctic soils. Front Microbiol 2014; 5:154. [PMID: 24782842 PMCID: PMC3988359 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2014.00154] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2014] [Accepted: 03/22/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The Antarctica Dry Valleys are regarded as the coldest hyperarid desert system on Earth. While a wide variety of environmental stressors including very low minimum temperatures, frequent freeze-thaw cycles and low water availability impose severe limitations to life, suitable niches for abundant microbial colonization exist. Antarctic desert soils contain much higher levels of microbial diversity than previously thought. Edaphic niches, including cryptic and refuge habitats, microbial mats and permafrost soils all harbor microbial communities which drive key biogeochemical cycling processes. For example, lithobionts (hypoliths and endoliths) possess a genetic capacity for nitrogen and carbon cycling, polymer degradation, and other system processes. Nitrogen fixation rates of hypoliths, as assessed through acetylene reduction assays, suggest that these communities are a significant input source for nitrogen into these oligotrophic soils. Here we review aspects of microbial diversity in Antarctic soils with an emphasis on functionality and capacity. We assess current knowledge regarding adaptations to Antarctic soil environments and highlight the current threats to Antarctic desert soil communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Don A Cowan
- Department of Genetics, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genetics, University of Pretoria Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Thulani P Makhalanyane
- Department of Genetics, Centre for Microbial Ecology and Genetics, University of Pretoria Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Paul G Dennis
- School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - David W Hopkins
- School of Life Sciences, Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, UK
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19
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Bottos EM, Woo AC, Zawar-Reza P, Pointing SB, Cary SC. Airborne bacterial populations above desert soils of the McMurdo Dry Valleys, Antarctica. MICROBIAL ECOLOGY 2014; 67:120-8. [PMID: 24121801 PMCID: PMC3907674 DOI: 10.1007/s00248-013-0296-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2013] [Accepted: 09/17/2013] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Bacteria are assumed to disperse widely via aerosolized transport due to their small size and resilience. The question of microbial endemicity in isolated populations is directly related to the level of airborne exogenous inputs, yet this has proven hard to identify. The ice-free terrestrial ecosystem of Antarctica, a geographically and climatically isolated continent, was used to interrogate microbial bio-aerosols in relation to the surrounding ecology and climate. High-throughput sequencing of bacterial ribosomal RNA (rRNA) genes was combined with analyses of climate patterns during an austral summer. In general terms, the aerosols were dominated by Firmicutes, whereas surrounding soils supported Actinobacteria-dominated communities. The most abundant taxa were also common to aerosols from other continents, suggesting that a distinct bio-aerosol community is widely dispersed. No evidence for significant marine input to bioaerosols was found at this maritime valley site, instead local influence was largely from nearby volcanic sources. Back trajectory analysis revealed transport of incoming regional air masses across the Antarctic Plateau, and this is envisaged as a strong selective force. It is postulated that local soil microbial dispersal occurs largely via stochastic mobilization of mineral soil particulates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eric M. Bottos
- />International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research, The University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand
- />Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Anthony C. Woo
- />Sorbonne Paris Cité, Faculté de Médecine, Université Paris Descartes, Paris Descartes, 24 rue du Faubourg Saint-Jacques, 75014 Paris, France
| | - Peyman Zawar-Reza
- />International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research, The University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand
- />Department of Geography, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch, New Zealand
| | - Stephen B. Pointing
- />International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research, The University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand
- />Institute for Applied Ecology New Zealand, School of Applied Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, Private Bag 92006, Auckland, 1142 New Zealand
| | - Stephen C. Cary
- />International Centre for Terrestrial Antarctic Research, The University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand
- />Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Waikato, Private Bag 3105, Hamilton, New Zealand
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20
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Abstract
The McMurdo Dry Valleys are the largest ice-free region in Antarctica and are critically at risk from climate change. The terrestrial landscape is dominated by oligotrophic mineral soils and extensive exposed rocky surfaces where biota are largely restricted to microbial communities, although their ability to perform the majority of geobiological processes has remained largely uncharacterized. Here, we identified functional traits that drive microbial survival and community assembly, using a metagenomic approach with GeoChip-based functional gene arrays to establish metabolic capabilities in communities inhabiting soil and rock surface niches in McKelvey Valley. Major pathways in primary metabolism were identified, indicating significant plasticity in autotrophic, heterotrophic, and diazotrophic strategies supporting microbial communities. This represents a major advance beyond biodiversity surveys in that we have now identified how putative functional ecology drives microbial community assembly. Significant differences were apparent between open soil, hypolithic, chasmoendolithic, and cryptoendolithic communities. A suite of previously unappreciated Antarctic microbial stress response pathways, thermal, osmotic, and nutrient limitation responses were identified and related to environmental stressors, offering tangible clues to the mechanisms behind the enduring success of microorganisms in this seemingly inhospitable terrain. Rocky substrates exposed to larger fluctuations in environmental stress supported greater functional diversity in stress-response pathways than soils. Soils comprised a unique reservoir of genes involved in transformation of organic hydrocarbons and lignin-like degradative pathways. This has major implications for the evolutionary origin of the organisms, turnover of recalcitrant substrates in Antarctic soils, and predicting future responses to anthropogenic pollution.
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22
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Influence of soil properties on the distribution of Deschampsia antarctica on King George Island, Maritime Antarctica. Polar Biol 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s00300-012-1213-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
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23
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Teixeira LCRS, Peixoto RS, Cury JC, Sul WJ, Pellizari VH, Tiedje J, Rosado AS. Bacterial diversity in rhizosphere soil from Antarctic vascular plants of Admiralty Bay, maritime Antarctica. ISME JOURNAL 2010; 4:989-1001. [PMID: 20357834 DOI: 10.1038/ismej.2010.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 151] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The Antarctic is a pristine environment that contributes to the maintenance of the global climate equilibrium. The harsh conditions of this habitat are fundamental to selecting those organisms able to survive in such an extreme habitat and able to support the relatively simple ecosystems. The DNA of the microbial community associated with the rhizospheres of Deschampsia antarctica Desv (Poaceae) and Colobanthus quitensis (Kunth) BartI (Caryophyllaceae), the only two native vascular plants that are found in Antarctic ecosystems, was evaluated using a 16S rRNA multiplex 454 pyrosequencing approach. This analysis revealed similar patterns of bacterial diversity between the two plant species from different locations, arguing against the hypothesis that there would be differences between the rhizosphere communities of different plants. Furthermore, the phylum distribution presented a peculiar pattern, with a bacterial community structure different from those reported of many other soils. Firmicutes was the most abundant phylum in almost all the analyzed samples, and there were high levels of anaerobic representatives. Also, some phyla that are dominant in most temperate and tropical soils, such as Acidobacteria, were rarely found in the analyzed samples. Analyzing all the sample libraries together, the predominant genera found were Bifidobacterium (phylum Actinobacteria), Arcobacter (phylum Proteobacteria) and Faecalibacterium (phylum Firmicutes). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first major bacterial sequencing effort of this kind of soil, and it revealed more than expected diversity within these rhizospheres of both maritime Antarctica vascular plants in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, which is part of the South Shetlands archipelago.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lia C R S Teixeira
- Laboratório de Ecologia Microbiana Molecular, Departamento de Microbiologia Geral, Instituto de Microbiologia Professor Paulo de Góes, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
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24
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Cary SC, McDonald IR, Barrett JE, Cowan DA. On the rocks: the microbiology of Antarctic Dry Valley soils. Nat Rev Microbiol 2010; 8:129-38. [DOI: 10.1038/nrmicro2281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 414] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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25
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Pointing SB, Chan Y, Lacap DC, Lau MCY, Jurgens JA, Farrell RL. Highly specialized microbial diversity in hyper-arid polar desert. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2009; 106:19964-9. [PMID: 19850879 PMCID: PMC2765924 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0908274106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 242] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2009] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica are a cold hyperarid polar desert that present extreme challenges to life. Here, we report a culture-independent survey of multidomain microbial biodiversity in McKelvey Valley, a pristine example of the coldest desert on Earth. We demonstrate that life has adapted to form highly-specialized communities in distinct lithic niches occurring concomitantly within this terrain. Endoliths and chasmoliths in sandstone displayed greatest diversity, whereas soil was relatively depauperate and lacked a significant photoautotrophic component, apart from isolated islands of hypolithic cyanobacterial colonization on quartz rocks in soil contact. Communities supported previously unreported polar bacteria and fungi, but archaea were absent from all niches. Lithic community structure did not vary significantly on a landscape scale and stochastic moisture input due to snowmelt resulted in increases in colonization frequency without significantly affecting diversity. The findings show that biodiversity near the cold-arid limit for life is more complex than previously appreciated, but communities lack variability probably due to the high selective pressures of this extreme environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen B. Pointing
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Yuki Chan
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Donnabella C. Lacap
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Maggie C. Y. Lau
- School of Biological Sciences, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam Road, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Joel A. Jurgens
- Department of Plant Pathology, University of Minnesota, St Paul, MN 55108-6030; and
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
| | - Roberta L. Farrell
- Department of Biological Sciences, The University of Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand
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